Misc. Pictures

I took off the pictures I had on the camera from the last couple of days. We took a field trip to the museum on Thursday to check out the new exhibits; frogs and ancient Egypt, which we are studying in school right now. Friday the kiddos spent the night with Ma and Pa so Jeff and I could have a much needed date night. We finally got to see Courageous. It was terrific! I cried and laughed all the way through it. It is defiantly one we will be getting when it comes out DVD. Saturday Jeff did some house projects while I took the kids out back to take a walk along the creek. I love taking them out into the woods where there is always something new to discover. Have a great week!

Checking out one of the many frogs from around the world.

Digging for artifacts in ancient Egypt.

I just love this picture of  a curious Nate in the woods. He is trying to figure out why the trees are making noises.

They love hanging out at the creek.

Josh loves throwing the leaves in the air and having them land on him.

Keep Changing the World

As we are going through this adoption process our desires and wants have not seem so important any longer. As we are looking at these countries we see how very blessed we are. At times I feel sick about how selfish Americans really are always wanting the newest, biggest and best of everything while there are children starving to death or sleeping on the floor. We are really wanting our kids to see this and Olivia is already wanting to know when we can go on a missions trip to another country. When the kids are older I would love to take mission trips with them and their friends to other countries and to develop a servants heart for missions. So, this  adoption has already been blessing us by opening our eyes to how great the need is and hopefully it may open the eyes of others to reach out and help in someway.

"Christians today like to play it safe. We want to put ourselves in situations where we are safe. But if we truly desire to please God, we cannot live that way. We have to do things that cost us during our life on earth but will be more than worth in eternity." Francis Chan

Just another day...

Not much going on around here this week. We have been enjoying the absolutely perfect weather.  I wish I could bottle it up for the cold days to come. This weekend Jeff is off and we plan on working around the house with my never ending list of things that need done before winter. I'm hoping the farmer gets his beans in across the street today or tomorrow so I can get the windows washed. They are sooo filthy.  Sunday evening there are 35 of us from church going to see Courageous and then dinner. I can't wait to see it! I'll let you know how great it is. The adoption is now getting ready to start the home study portion. Which means that they get to come see how crazy our home is everyday. Have a great weekend. LOL!!

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3

Nate wanted Olivia to sleep with them this week. Poor Josh was so squished. They are so cute when they are asleep.

It was crazy hat night at Awana this week. Silly kids. 

Walkin in Faith

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

So far our short walk down this adoption road has all ready caused me tears and feelings of emotions I never expected. Everything in this process requires us to totally trust in Him. One of the things I dealt with today is that I am so worried that we are going to pick the wrong country which does not lead us to the child God wants us to. As some you may know or to others it may not be a big surprise, but I like to be in control of everything. This is something I have no control over. I am having to leave it at His throne and walk away trusting everything to Him. This morning I was questioning God about the country we chose. Jeff had to once again remind me that it is in His hands. If we can help one child, despite whatever country she is in, then that is one more child that is going to a loving home. So now I must walk in Faith even if I can't see. So in my devotional time I have been going back through a Bible study I just did which dealt with a lot on faith (funny how God prepares us for what He knows what we will be needing soon) and writing everything down that will give me encouragement. Also spending a lot of time in Hebrews 11. Maybe you need a little Faith today...

"And without faith it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

"The rest of faith is uniting the word of God with faith for a particular situation." Kay Arthur

"Faith is taking God at his word.." Kay Arthur

"You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God you will receive what he has promised." Hebrews 10:36

"As we live this life of faith we are to fix our mind on Jesus at all times." Kay Arthur

"To know God's word is one thing, but to live by it, apply it, trust it, act on it, cling to it is a another thing altogether." Kay Arthur

Prophetstown

We took the kids on a field trip last week to Prophetstown State Park in Battle Creek. There was absolutely no one there. I mean no one! We had the whole park to ourselves. It was a beautiful place for the kids to play and explore. We are planning on going back in a couple of weeks when the leaves start changing to take some pictures of the kids.

We had some playtime on the plays set before lunch.

Josh loved this thing.

He's just too cute!

We then headed over to the farmhouse which is meant to look like a home would in the 1920's. Here's Liv looking at pictures in 3-d.

Nate thought the typewriter was neat.

"What is this thing?" Josh asked, "And how do I make it work?"

Learning the purpose of a windmill.

We had a great family day!

The Next Chapter

God has been moving in a big way in our lives lately. Over the last year I have felt God speaking to me about adoption. Nothing huge. Just settle little hints that He would place in my path. I mentioned it to Jeff and he turned me down with his reasons so I let it go.  However I continued to feel the pulling of the Spirit. About four months ago Olivia came up to me and said that she had been praying about us adopting a child. I felt like my heart was coming out of my chest. She had not known that I had these feelings and now the Spirit was working in her young life only convicting me even more. I again brought it up to Jeff about three months ago and he didn't say yes but said it was something we could look into and pray about. About three weeks ago I was reading a book Choosing To See by Mary Beth Chapman, wife of Steven Curtis Chapman. They have adopted three girls and the whole time I fought back the tears and constantly felt the Spirit stirring inside me. Thinking I knew what Jeff would say, I approached  him again waiting to be shot down with a list of excuses.. Surprisingly he said that along with praying about it together he had also been praying about it in his quiet time and feels like this is something to get serious about. So we started our research, contacted an agency, gathered information. So last week for for our anniversary Jeff wrote me a beautiful letter about our life together being like a book with many chapters. He then said that it was time to start the new chapter and agreed to go through with the adoption process. So for our 15th anniversary we gave each other an adoption application which we filled out and sent in. We were approved for the first application and have started this new faith walk in our life. We are totally depending on God in taking each step with us and showing us which country He wants us to go to. We know that if this is His will then we are going to see some pretty amazing things take place. Our whole focus along this journey is to do this His way and giving Him all the glory each and every step so we can be a family for a little girl that needs to be loved. I feel like we are getting out of the boat like Jesus told his disciples and getting into the water. The thing about God is that He is so unpredictable. I never would have imagined us homeschooling our children or trying to adopt a child 15 years ago. I had our life all planned out in a neat little box and none of this was in my box. Just like this song below says, "But we will never know the awesome power of the grace of God  until we let ourselves get swept away into this holy flood. So if you'll take may hand we'll close our eyes and count to three and take a leap of faith." So please pray for us as we are diving in and going deep! We are also asking for everyone to join us in praying everyday for the mother of the child we may be blessed with. Pray for her health, decisions, and most importantly her salvation. Also for the child that may or may not be conceived yet. Blessings

 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 

James 1:27

Workin Hard

Liv and Josh pushed up their sleeves and worked hard this weekend. Liv and I made applesauce all Saturday afternoon. We ended up with 30 quarts of sauce. We will hopefully get 30 more done next Saturday which will keep us stocked for a year. 
For church we had Sunday serve day.  Instead of having church we divide up into teams and go out into the community to serve. Liv, Josh and I did landscaping at the new Habitat for Humanity house in Kokomo. Nate stayed at the nursery at church to help pack Christmas shoe boxes.

Liv cranking away making applesauce. She is such a great helper.

Josh digging a hole at the habitat house for his plant.

Livy busy planting.

Josh and his buddy Luke. They both did great helping. Then after awhile this hill looked like a lot more fun for them.

Teamwork! All the kids thought if they worked together they could get this huge tree root out.

All the kiddos that helped at this site. Great job kids!

Koh Koh Mah

It's time to start field trips again. Today we went with the home school group we are a part of and went to Koh Koh Mah. This is the first year we went. I was really impressed with all of the reenacting and the history the kids were able to learn. 

This is the skeleton of an Indian wigwam.

Learning that Indians used animal horns to make all kinds of things.

Josh sitting with the Indian boy at the campfire.

Josh really enjoyed watching them make bullets for their muskets.

Livy tasting some of their food. She really liked it.

Watching at the spinning wheel.

They had all kinds of games the children used to play back in the 1700's. Liv and Josh both enjoyed trying all the games.

Candle making was a big hit.

Of course we had to buy a sword for a souvenir.

15th Anniversary

I am celebrating 15 years of marriage today with the love of my life. We are celebrating 15 years of love, laughter, tears, fears, joy, fights, bliss, being tested to the max and every other emotion one can imagine. Marriage is feeling all these emotions. But at the end of the day knowing I would do it all over again just to hear you say I love you now and forever. This song, I feel, was written about us and our life together so far. We are dancing through this life together facing trials and joys knowing in the end it will be worth it.  I am looking forward to what He has planned for the next 15 years. I love you so much and I believe in us.

Good Times

We had a barn party at Andrea and Ryan's last night. We had so much fun just hanging out together and watching all the kids play. I love that our church has a great group of kids Liv, Josh and Nate's age to grow up with. It is such a blessing how close they all are that it seems like they are all brothers and sisters when they are together.  I know it is times like these we will always cherish.

Flying in the rain.

Liv and Lanie tackling the boys.

Miss Mayce, Lanie, Livy & Maryn enjoying the hayride.

Braxton & Carter trying to enjoy the hayride.....those girls were really something.

Us & our boys enjoying the hay ride.

Giddy Up

I took the kids over to Mom and Allen's to ride Amy and Polly this afternoon. They all enjoyed their horse ride. Thank you Grammy and Allen!!

Nate's first time on.  He had always been to scared before.

Cowboy Josh!

Liv always wants to go fast.

Josh and Liv, out for a stroll.

Boys Room

My labor day project is to paint the boys room. Tonight I went in to start taking down the border. But as soon as I got started Liv and Jake came in and took over. They had the whole room done in 20 min. I can't believe how easy it came down. Great job guys!

They were racing to see who could get the most off.

Liv won!  It came off in huge sections.

 

Courageous

This is Casting Crowns newest song and theme song for the movie Courageous which comes to theaters Sept. 30. We  have to wait until Oct. to go see it for our couples night at church. Then our small group is doing the bible study that goes with it. 
This song absolutely brings me goose bumps every time I hear it. It is so true that Christian men in this country need to be Courageous and start being the heads of their homes and leaders in the work place. I am so thankful for Jeff and to his accountability partner at work, Troy, for shining for Jesus in an occupation in which you see the worst in people. I hope they will be able to use this video and movie as a tool to lead other men at work to Christ and to be leaders in their homes.
I also want thank you honey for being the spiritual head of our home and leading me and the kids in the word and lifting our family and marriage in prayer everyday. I love you and  I am so proud that you are constantly answering God's calling in our home, work and church. You are truly a courageous man in every area of your life.
Also, Brittany I think of you when hearing this. Thank you for answering His calling and starting the marriage mentoring at church. This video is exactly what we have talked about. There is a roaring lion in  our churches trying to tear marriages apart. I know how much you will love this movie. Can't wait to see it with you guys. 

Just another day...

Just took the pictures off the camera and here's a look of what we've been up to the last couple of days...

Liv and Josh playing in the rain.

Josh as Popeye. It is now the boys favorite cartoon.

The next couple of pictures are from a church pool party we had Sunday. The kids all enjoy hanging out together.(We missed your family Brittany!)

We love our church family soooo much.

On the days Jeff is sleeping, Liv and Josh each take turns playing with Nate while I teach the other one. Olivia has really enjoyed teaching Nate. I think she got the teacher gene from me. I can imagine her teaching someday.

Here she is putting together a book of colors she made with him.

Another thing she got from me is the love of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She has read the book set we got her and now has discovered the TV series. She loves anything from that time period. She was so excited  when I gave her this bed cap I made for her yesterday. She had been wearing a doctors cap to bed before that. Now she wants me to make her matching pj's. I'll see what we can do.